WILLIE Randolph was willing to take the bullet for trying to save some bullets.

The Mets had just beaten the Nationals 9-8 in 10 innings, but the topic of discussion was why the Mets manager pulled Pedro Martinez after just six shutout innings.

The home team led 8-0 at the time, but Martinez had thrown just 78 pitches and looked to be in complete command. Still, Randolph went to his bullpen, which allowed six runs in the seventh and two more in the ninth to force an extra inning in a game that should have been a romp.

“I just felt it was the right thing to do at the time,” Randolph said of his decision to pull Martinez. “It was my decision. Plain and simple it was my decision.”

When pressed Randolph added, “We’re always going to try to be cautious with Pedro when we can. We understand we’re in a pennant race, and every game is important. But we felt real comfortable at that point and time that we could win the ballgame with the way things were set up in the seventh inning. I wanted to save some bullets if I could.”

That’s Randolph’s story and he’s sticking to it. But he may have been influenced by Martinez complaining of stiffness in his lower back.

“Sometimes you don’t feel all that good,” Martinez said after the game. “You don’t feel like you have all that power, like it’s easy. Somehow I mixed and used my experience and everything was good.”

He added that he may have slept wrong causing his lower back to feel “a little stiff.” But he warned, “don’t make a big deal out of this. I went out and pitched feeling a little uncomfortable and not normal, so it’s probably from sleeping.”

Considering Martinez was dancing on stage during the post-game concert at Shea to celebrate Hispanic Night, it’s likely whatever soreness he experienced isn’t serious. Still it helps explain why Randolph made such a questionable move.

Certainly, if a game seemed in the bag, this was it.

Martinez had scattered six hits and not allowed a runner past second base. The Mets’ offense was rolling. Ramon Castro belted a three-run homer, and Jose Reyes had a two-run jack for a five-run second inning. David Wright added a three-run homer in the third. Hispanic Night was off to a grand start: Martinez dominating on the mound; Reyes and Castro hammering home runs.

“Seemed like it was going to be an easy day at the office,” Martinez said.

Those of us who have watched the Mets over a number of years understand that no lead is safe. After all, this is the place where Mel Rojas and Armando Benitez sent many fans home in utter disgust.

Randolph made a move thinking of the Mets short-term future, but put at risk the present where every win is crucial.

The meltdown by the Mets’ bullpen nearly allowed the Nationals to turn what should have been a waltz into the Mets worst loss of the season. It took a run-scoring single by pinch-hitter Chris Woodward in the 10th to give the Mets the victory and save Randolph from being scalded on every call-in show today.

If Martinez said he was stiff, then Randolph is off the hook for making his move. But Randolph was willing to take the heat, while offering no regrets.

“We’ve had our share of tough losses all year, so I’m not going to apologize for anything,” he said.